Headliners; No Clear Sailing

Published: October 11, 1987

With concerns over the safety of air travel paramount in the public mind, the choice of a new Secretary of Transportation is bound to be controversial. While no one was surprised last week when the White House nominated James H. Burnley 4th to succeed the departing Elizabeth Hanford Dole, there were signs that he might face some opposition in the Senate. As deputy director, Mr. Burnley has been an advocate of the Reagan Administration's deregulatory policies, which have been blamed by consumer groups for some of the airline industry's problems. He also has supported the Administration's position that Government subsidies to Amtrak be reduced.